Ah, another religious war! You guys are way too bored. Here's some history: We had flying bridges on all the destroyers, the single amphib, the single ammo ship, and the tugboat I served on in the Navy. Current cruisers and destroyers do not have them. Generally, only the lookouts were stationed up there. On the battleship Iowa, we had a conning station complete with helm and engine telegraphs on the 0-4 level (main deck is 1, and next deck up is 0-1, 0-2, etc) AND on the 0-8 level. The 0-8 level station was on the slim firecontrol director tower the Iowas had, and that made it easy to be able to see across the stern which was impossible at the 0-4 station. When I conned the Iowa through the Panama Canal in 1985, I was at the 0-8 level, and the wind from aft blew the stack gas from our forward stack right into us and "grayed" our white uniforms and gagged us. When I conned the Iowa into New York harbor later that year, we all decided to remain on the 0-4 level. I was boxed in the very narrow area around the amidships pelorus with the pelorus in front of me and the 17-inch thick "citadel" behind me yelling helm and rudder orders through the small viewing slit over the noise of hovering news choppers. I could not move to either bridge wing due to the crush of NY pilots and others crowded around either side of me. There was so much "help" around, yet I was isolated. I was wishing I could have been on the smaller 0-8 level where we could have more easily controlled the excess folks. Anyway, back to trawlers. I come off the FB in adverse weather, but it is indispensable in mooring and other close quarters situations. My many guests love it on nice days outings. I have had 10-15 folks up there watching whales (couldn't open the main deck doors!). With lightness of the overall construction of the bulwarks up there, bimini top and tubing to support it, I do not consider the weight a significant factor in seakeeping. Windage is minimal if the enclosure sides are down, which is often the case. I think the ideal flying bridge arrangement is what the Flemings have. I didn't get a boat to be cooped up inside. Rich Gano CALYPSO (GB42-295) Southport, FL